‘CASO’ HET. INCONTRO TRA BAGGOTT E DAVE COX

Posted on 9 Lug 2013 by S.P. Lascia un commento

Constable Matt Baggott for the first time since the policing board said it has no confidence in the group.

Last week a scathing report revealed investigations into army killings during the Troubles in Northern Ireland have been less rigorous.

Mr Baggott has been asked to examine the role of Dave Cox and if the HET should continue.

It follows calls from Sinn Féin for Mr Cox to step down.

A statement from the PSNI said: “The Chief Constable today met with the head of the HET to discuss how the recommendations in the HMIC report should be progressed.”

According to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, the UK’s top policing watchdog, the HET has serious shortcomings and risks losing the confidence of victims’ families.

It said the PSNI unit set up to probe more than 3,000 deaths in Northern Ireland had been treating military cases differently to other cases as a matter of policy.

Members of the Policing Board met last Thursday to discuss the findings.

In a statement the board said it has “no confidence in the leadership” of the HET and has asked the Chief Constable to review the organisation’s management.

The board added: “The HET should continue the process of conducting all other reviews but it should not finalise any cases until all the necessary reforms are completed.

“The board has established a dedicated working group to take forward and oversee the implementation of all of the recommendations in the HMIC Report.

“This group, comprising political and independent membership, will also review PSNI failures to respond promptly to issues raised in relation to the work of the HET.”

Matt Baggott has apologised and said all military cases will be re-examined.

He said: “Let me say at the outset that I am sorry that HET put in place a policy that was wrong.

“HET is unique and so is the task they fulfil. There was no easy or established template to be followed. Notwithstanding this, a differential approach to military cases is wrong. I give you my assurance that this has ended.”